Readily adjustable garment



O v w. L. DESSAUER '2,s70,777

READILY ADJUSTABLE GARMENT Filed Feb. 7, 1950 A INVENTOR Walier L. fies saaen BY U 2; ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1951 Walter L. Dessauer, New York, N. Y. I Application February 7, 1950, Serial No. 142,793

This invention relates to garments, and more particularly to dresses for growing girls.

Claimsri- (01. 2 15) It is an object of this invention toprovide a garment the length of which is readily adjustable.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dress which is readily adjustable s that it can be made to fit a growing child throughout a period of growth extending over a number of size ranges.

It is still another object-to provide such dress in which the length of the dress from the waist-- line to the top of the dress, i. e., the position of the waistline, the length of the skirt portion of the dress, 1. e., the length of the dress from the waistline to the lower edge, and the overall length of the dress may all be readily adjusted, or,

if desired, only the waistline or only the length of the skirt portion may be readily adjusted.

Other objects and advantages of this'invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

A very important problem in the design of dresses for growing children is to provide for changes in the height of the child and changesin the position of the waistline. The expedient of changing the hem of a dress or skirt to lengthen the dress or skirt is of course common. It has the obvious objection of requiring appreciable:

time and effort to remove the old hem and replace 1 it with a new one. More important, however, is the fact that as the child grows the waistline changes. Accordingly, a dress which fits a growing' child when first purchased will after a shortperiod of time have its waistline not in registry with that of the child. This difference in the position of the waistline emphasizes the fact that the dress has been outgrown. To change the" position of the waistline in the dress involves such an extensive alteration that rather than make such alteration the dress is usually discarded.

In accordance with this invention the dress is 4 provided with one or more readily removable" concealed tucks suitably disposed in the upper bodice or blouse portion and also in its lower orskirt portion. The tuck or tucks being concealed do not detrirnentally affect the appearance of the dress. Upon removal of a tuck or tucks from the upper portion of the garment, it is lengthened and the position of the waistline is changed to accommodate growth. Upon removal of the'tuck waistline and at the same time the dress retains i its finished hem. Hence, the length of the-dress is altered without requiring a hemming operation as the dress retains its hem. Upon removal of the tuck or tucks from both portions of the dress, the dress is lengthened and the waistline changed.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a dress 7 embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the dress, looking at the same in the direction indicated by the arrows 3--3'on' Figure 2; the several layers depicted in this figure are shown in spaced relation, in the interests of clarity. In the finished ironed garment, however, the layers of the tuck are folded flat and no bulging takes place;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the dress, looking at the same in the direction indicated by the arrows 55 on Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the waist:- line portion only of a dress illustrating a modified form of this invention;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 1-4 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 8; and

the dress looking at same in the direction indicated by the arrows l0--I 0 on Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing the dress licomprises an upper or blouse portion I6 and a lower or skirt portion ll which may be of conventional construction with respect to the neckline, sleeves and shoulders. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, lower end 3 of the blouse I6 is secured to upper end IQ of the skirt H by a row of stitching 2| forming waistline 22 of the dress. A belt 23, which may be in the form of a removable sash or suitably attached to .the dress as by stitching or-loops, passes over and'conceals the row of stitches 2i joining. the skirt and blouse;

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of still an- Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of "by the belt 23.

by the belt 4|. or 5|, multiple tucks, as hereinabove described,

In accordance with this invention a readily removable tuck 26 is formed on the inside of the lower portion of the blouse Hi just above the line of stitches 2| and disposed so as to be covered The tuck is thus concealed. It is formed by folding the fabric of the blouse to produce the two layers 21, 28 sewed together by a readily removable stitch, such as the well known chain stitch, or, if desired, of the kind known as tacking which can readily be ripped out without injury to the fabric. Stitches 29 hold together two layers 2! and 28 forming the tuck 26, which, as shown in Figure 2, is disposed on the inside of the blouse beneath belt 23.

If it is desired to lengthen the blouse, thus changing the position of the waistline 22, it is only necessary to rip out the stitching 29. This automatically increases the length of the blouse and the overall length of the dress by a distance equal to twice the width of the tuck. Thus, in the case of a wide tuck, the increase in length is 1". If desired, instead of one tuck 26 as shown, two or more such tucks may be used each suitably dimensioned to provide for pro gressively increasing the length of the garment and lowering the waistline in desired increments.

The skirt I! of the dress is also provided with one or more readily removable inside tucks to permit lengthening thereof and this without altering the hem. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, a frill or trim 3| is stitched as at 32 to the lower portion 33 of the skirt H. A tuck 34 consisting of overlapping layers 35 and 36 secured togetherby readily removable stitching 3! is disposed beneath the trim 3|. By ripping out this stitching 31, the skirt is automatically lengthened a distance equal to twice the width of the tuck 34 and this without affecting the hem of the dress. The tuck may be of any desired dimension. Also one or more tucks of less width may be used instead of one relatively wide tuck and thus provide for'progressive adjustment of the length of the skirt.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 the tuck for effecting adjustment of the waistline and that for adjusting the length of the skirt are both disposed in the waistline of the dress. In these figures, 4| indicates a belt or sash of any desired type disposed in the waistline 42 of the dress. The waistline is formed by permanently stitching as at 43 the lower end 44 of the blouse to the upper end 45 of the skirt. A tuck 46 formed by sewing together layers 41, 48 by readily removable stitching 49 is formed in the lower portion of the blouse just above stitching 43. A tuck 5| formed by sewing together layers 52, 53 by readily removable stitching 54 is formed in the upper portion of the skirt just below the stitching 43. Both tucks 46 and 5| are covered Instead of the single tucks 46 permitting progressive adjustments could of course be employed.

By ripping out stitches 49, the waistline is automatically dropped a distance equal to twice the width of the tuck 46, i. e., the length of the blouse is increased this distance. By ripping out stitches 54, the length of the skirt is increased a distance equal to twice the width of tuck 5|. By removing both tucks 48 and 5|, which, as above noted, can be readily accomplished by ripping out or otherwise removing the chain stitch or tackingholding the tucks in place, the length of the dress is increased a distance equal to twicethe width of both tucks and the waistlineis.

4 dropped a distance equal to twice the width of tuck 4B.

In the modification of Figures 9 and 10, a sleeveless summer type dress is shown in which the bodice 6| is provided at its upper edge with an overhanging trim 82, desirably secured thereto by stitching 63. Disposed beneath the trim 62 is a tuck 64 formed by securing the layers 65 and 66 of the bodice 6| by readily removable stitching 61. Instead of one such tuck, two or more smaller tucks may be employed to provide for progressive increase in the length of the bodice portion of the dress with corresponding increase in the length. of the dress and dropping of the waistline of the dress.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the belt, sash,

- frill, plait, etc. disposed on the front of the dress and concealing the inside removable tuck or tucks are made of a width and positioned relative to the tuck or tucks such that when the tuck or tucks are removed the portion of the fabric which formed the tucks is still covered and not exposed to view. For example, in the structure of Figure 4 the width of trim 3] is more than twice the width of tuck 34 so that,

when this tuck is removed, layer 38 of the tuck is positioned above the lower edge of trim 3| and is not exposed to view. Accordingly, should there be a difference in color of the fabric due to washing or for other reasons between the portion of the fabric employed to form the tuck and the remainder of the fabric, this difference will not be apparent to a casual observer. Furthermore the portion of the fabric of the dress containing the concealed tuck or tucks, which portion of the fabric may be marred, more or less, by the removal of the stitching forming the tuck, is covered by the trim, belt, sash, etc., even when the dress has been adjusted to lengthen it or to change the position of the waistline. Hence, the dress retains its attractive uniform appearance notwithstanding removal of one or more of the concealed tucks to effect the desired adjustment.

It will be noted this invention provides a dress which is readily adjustable so that it can be made to fit a growing child. By removing the tuck or tucks in the bodice or upper portion of the dress the waistline is adjusted and the dress is simultaneously lengthened. By removing only the tuck in the skirt the dress is lengthened without changing the waistline and without affecting the finished hem. By removing tucks in both the upper or bodice portion and the skirt the dress is lengthened and the waistline adjusted. Thus, dresses embodying this invention can readily be adjusted to give an exceptionally good fit to children during'their rapidly growing years.

The term belt is used in the claims in a broad sense and includes sashes, ribbons and other bands of material employed to ornament the waistline area of a dress.

Since different embodiments of the invention 1 could be made without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in mit adjustment of the length thereof, e. g. for example. a skirt embodying the structure of Figure 4..

What is claimedis:

1. A fabric skirt having a concealed, readily removable tuck on the inside thereof, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said skirt to provide overlapping layers on the inside of said skirt extending about the entire circumference of said skirt and secured together by readily removable stitching, and a trim member on the outside of said skirt positioned with its top edge just above said tuck and of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, said trim member covering said tuck and thus concealing from view said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed.

2. An adjustable fabric dress for a growing c above said waistline, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said blouse to provide overlapping layers extending about the entire circumference of said, blouse and secured together by readily removable stitching, a trim member on the outside of said blouse, just above said tuck, said member being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, said trim member covering said tuck and thus concealing from view said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed, a readily removable tuck on said skirt, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said skirt to provide overlapping layers extending about the entire circumference of said skirt and secured together by readily removable stitching, and a trim member on the outside of said skirt just above said tuck in said skirt, said trim member being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, said trim member covering said tuck and thus concealing from view said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed.

3. An adjustable fabric dress for a growing child, comprising a blouse, a skirt joined to said blouse, the line of jointure between said blouse and said skirt forming the waistline of said dress,

a readily removable inside tuck of uniform width disposed in the blouse above said waistline, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said blouse to provide overlapping layers extending about the entire circumference of said blouse and secured together by readily removable stitching, a trim member on the outside of said blouse,

just above said tuck, said member being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck,

said tuck in said skirt, said trim member being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, said trim member covering said tuck and thus concealing from View said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed.

4. A fabric skirt having a concealed, readily removable tuck, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said skirt to provide overlapping layers extending about substantially the entire circumference of said skirt and secured together by readily removable means, and trim means on said skirt positioned with its top edge above said tuck, said trim means being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, covering said tuck and thus concealing said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed.

5. An adjustable fabric dress for a growing child, comprising a blouse, a skirt joined to said blouse, the line of jointure between said blouse and skirt forming the waistline of said dress, a readily removable tuck disposed in the blouse above said waistline, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said blouse to provide overlapping layers extending about the entire circumference of said blouse and secured together by readily removable means, trim means on the outside of said blouse, above said tuck, said trim means being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck, said trim means covering said tuck and thus concealing said tuck and also the fabric forming said tuck when said tuck is removed, a readily removable tuck on said skirt, said tuck being produced by folding the fabric of said skirt to provide overlapping layers extending about the entire circumference of said skirt and secured together by readily removable means, and trim means on the outside of said skirt above said tuck in said skirt, said lastmentioned trim means being of a width in excess of twice the width of said tuck in said skirt, said trim means covering said tuck in said skirt and thus concealing said tuck in said skirt and also the fabric forming said tuck in said skirt when said tuck in said skirt is removed.

WALTER L. DESSAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 886,735 Sprague May 5, 1908 1,461,798 Hildreth July 1923 1,765,937 Patten June 24, 1930 2,044,668 Cukor June 16, 1936 2,331,079 Pearl Oct. 5, 1943 2,331,626 Perlitch Oct. 12, 1943 2,338,552 Stephenson Jan. 4, 1944 2,407,340 McCarthy Sept. 10, 1946 2,441,274 Kay May 11, 1948 2,442,494 Hopkins June 1, 1948 2,470,031 Harris May 10, 1949 

